2 hurt in daytime shooting; schools nearby locked down: cops

Two people were shot in a brazen lunchtime shooting yesterday on Grant Avenue in Jersey City, close enough to three city schools to have administrators place them on lockdown, according to authorities and police radio transmissions.

The two victims targeted in the shooting near 12 Grant Ave. were in a vehicle, Jersey City police spokeswoman Ashley Manz said.

One victim, described as a 33-year-old, was shot three times, according to police radio transmissions, which said the second victim was shot twice. The age of the second victim was not clear.

After Schools 29, 41 and the Early Childhood Center on Claremont Avenue were locked down, the victims drove into the parking lot of School 41, located on Wilkinson Avenue, a school district official said in a memo.

Manz said the victims were taken to a local hospital and their wounds were deemed not life-threatening. Two "males" who were shot were being evaluated at the Jersey City Medical Center at 3:40 p.m. and they appeared to be in stable condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

After the shooting, police officers were seen walking along Grant Avenue searching for evidence. There were at least four evidence placards marking spots in the street. At least three shell casings were found, police said in radio transmissions.

Police responded to a Jersey City address believed to be connected to the owner of the vehicle used in the shooting. Manz said the investigation is active.

One resident a few doors from the shooting said there are few problems in the area.